Sheffield City Region is soon to be on the map as a tourist destination, as a new £23m fund has been announced for projects across South Yorkshire to boost the tourist economy, regenerate urban areas and improve transport connections.
The grant, part of the Local Growth Fund- government funding allocated to Local Enterprise Partnerships for projects that benefit the local economy- was formally agreed at the SCR Mayoral Combined Authority meeting.
The largest grant of £7.4m will go towards the regeneration and the development of the Glass Works in Barnsley town centre, which will include new restaurants, a market and offices, bringing in 700 new jobs.
A grant of £7.32m has also been allocated to road improvements along the M1, and local roundabouts, whilst £2.13m, has been approved for Barnsley’s Digital Media Centre to deliver more working space, and the creation of 94 full-time jobs.
Further grants include £3.5m for extended parking at Doncaster Sheffield Airport and £4.8m for the Parkwood Extreme sports development in Sheffield.
The proposed grants promise to transform the region. Rob Shaw, Managing Director at Glu Recruit said: “Investing in developments such as these will provide a job injection to the region, whilst also increasing our desirability to investors and tourists.
“The grants build on our strengths, whilst enabling us to grow new opportunities; it is exciting to think about what position we will be in in the next couple of years.
“Overall, it is brilliant news for the region and will provide a solid economic boost to the business sector. The proposed developments have the potential to put the region on the map as an exciting, innovative place to live and work, drawing in professionals from across the country, and beyond.”